Maroon

              MAROON Vol. 59, No. 6 Loyola University, New Orleans February 27,1981 Campus activities focus on world hunger Mardi Gras party Members of the Loyola Jazz Band entertain Wednesday at the 3rd District Kiwanis Club's Mardi Gras party for handicapped children at the Fisk-Howard School cafeteria. The LU Circle K Club, a Kiwanis-affihated student service organization, was also on hand to entertain the children. — Photo by Michael Hennessy By Douglas Leal Maroon Contributor April 9 has been officially declared Starvation Awareness Day (SAD) by Gov. Dave Treen, Mayor Ernest Morial, Archbishop Philip Hannan, the Jefferson Parish Council and the Harahan City Council. LUCAP Director Dan Sifferlin said, "Loyola is joining a citywide coalition of high schools, elementary schools, youth groups, and other colleges in observing SAD, a day of prayer and fasting for the end of world hunger. "One of the goals of this (coalition) is to obtain food and clothes to fill a ship which has been donated by (Castle and Cooke, Inc.). The ship will sail for Honduras sometime after SAD," he said. Loyola's drive for relief items for the ship will precede SAD. Other activities in the planning stages are a speaker and film, a hunger seminar, an information booth in the Danna Center, and a fund-raising marathon run. Starvation Awareness Day — created to recognize and help reduce world hunger, both physical and spiritual — will be the focus of upcoming activities of the Loyola University Community Action Program. Campus Ministry has also targeted world hunger as its main focus for Lent, according to the Rev. Thomas Madden, S.J., dean of Campus Ministry. INSIDE: AH you ever wanted to know about Mardi Gras, but were afraid to ask! / Carnival 1857-1981 magazineCable class discussed by officials By Tyrone King Maroon Contributor Representatives from 10 of New Orleans' higher education institutions met at Loyola Monday to discuss the possibility of developing adult education programming on cable television. Cox Cable TV of New Orleans and area universities are working on a plan to establish a channel which would provide "tele-courses" so students earn college credit without leaving their homes. Cox's exclusive Interactive Data Exchange (Indax) would enable students to call up information and take tests at their convenience by way of television and computer hookups. Dr. Robert Preston, vice president for Academic Affairs, headed the panel of spokesmen for the educational channel. The Rev. James C. Carter, S.J., university president, delivered the opening address. Preston said the channel presented an "opportunity for a cooperative venture on the part of higher education institutions in the metropolitan area to provide some educational services for all the public. "Each institution has its own clientele, but this (channel) would be a great opportunity to reach people who aren't presently being reached," he said. Black Loyola leaders comment on role of BSU As Black History Month closes this week, three black campus leaders commented on the role of black student unions, their validity on college campuses today and their effectiveness in the future. Dr. Norman Roussell, executive assistant to the president: "First, black student unions were formed (in the late 19605) because blacks weren't traditional students on white campuses. To operate from that vantage point, in a foreign environment, there was a need to inform administrators and faculty of unique needs (of black students). "Secondly, other student groups were not open to blacks. The BSU offered them fellowship." Roussell said black student unions should continue as long as blacks feel unique situations occur to them. He said a BSU can direct leadership training of black students towards the needs of minorities if they're made more aware of society's problems. "I think blacks will need to congregate together for a long time to come based on four factors: educational background, past experience, socio-economic position and our cultural experience. He added, "Blacks still have social experiences off-campus which impact on the university's ability to eliminate feelings about past discrimination. Dr. Willie Zanders, acting dean of City College: "Originally — in 1968 — the group was known as 'Expression.' BSU was the second name. At that time, there was an overwhelming sense of black awareness and hundreds of black student unions were formed all over the country. "Perhaps, the name 'Black Student Union' denotes or connotes a separatist view. If it does, it's counterproductive. In the '70s, the name was acceptable to others. But in the '80s there's a need for blacks, whites and Spanish-surname groups to work 'together. "Since that's the case, after 10 years of development, the BSU might be considering new goals and objectives. Many positive things have been contributed by the BSU. And if the group is going to continue to play a meaningful part, they can't do it alone. "Just as the name was changed to fit the times then, perhaps a name-change could be considered at this time. 1 think it's important the (BSU) students understand the opinions of nonmembers. Perhaps, the BSU needs internal planning sessions to consider this matter." Zanders added that to be successful in the '80s "any student group will have to have a coalition of all ethnic groups." (Loyola's BSU is open to all students. Currently, six of 150 membess are non-black.) Anthony Recasner, president of BSU: "Black student unions were formed because blacks had special academic and social needs because of the problems they faced, being in a minority on predominantly white campuses. "Black student unions are still valid today because some of those needs still exist. To meet these needs, the BSU has programs geared to study skills, financial aid, economics and budgeting. "Loyola's BSU exists to serve the perceived and unperceived needs of black students. We also want to keep them in tune with the culture and history of blacks which is what Black History Month (at Loyola) was all about." —Compiled by Allen Johnson Jr., Linedda Cates and Darlene Trueblood. Due to Mardi Gras holidays and midterm exams The Maroon will not publish until March 20. See World-hunger/page 2 See Cable TV/page 2